“Your just scared of her. You’ll soon see there’s nothing to be scared of.” I change my answer. “I do trust her. And you should too.”

No matter what she did, Rachel couldn’t recall her childhood. She couldn’t remember where she grew up, what the names of her friends were, all the times she had likely gotten in trouble unless somehow she was a perfect kid and she merely didn’t know. She didn’t remember if she’d had her first kiss or if she had ever done something absolutely foolish on a dare or if she’d ever even had the friends she assumed she would’ve hung out with.

Titan was about to say something to her when something hit me out of nowhere. A memory too hard to believe. 

“Stop... I know her. I fondly remember her. Rachel? It's like she's been erased from our past. Don't you recognize her? We were childhood friends. She was like my big sister. You two were so competitive.”

Rachel as a determined child and as a teen was always traveling. She wasn’t frightened of the dangers outside of our village. She was following her dream. Running towards it. But the distance never narrowed. She knew, deep down, it never will but she couldn't stop, couldn't settle for what she discovered. There was constantly something better on the horizon. She found her proper place as a gallant knight to the castle right before Titan found his place as a local guard to the neighboring village.

“We have all lost some precious memories. These knights. It's like they were eradicated from the minds of their loved ones lives. My mother didn't die giving birth to me. She was a knight. We all know these knights. Everyone does. But they've been erased. I'm not just a fisherman's daughter. A knight has trained me before and didn't even know it.”

“How could this be?” Titan asked confused yet I could see that they were both unlocking these same memories as I have. 

“The queen must know something about this. Or maybe her memories have been erased too?” Rachel rubbed her head. Titan bit his lip trying to come up with answers that we’d never find.

“We’ll have to ask her ourselves after we defeat the dragon…But for now let’s get ready to leave.”

I was in no rush to leave this place. I enjoyed the sea. I sat by the shore and looked out to the sea, with the sound of the waves stroking my ears. I fastened my eyes and enjoyed the breeze against my skin. And I thought, “Am I crazy for thinking that Rachel contains the answer to it all?” Watching the sunrise upon the horizon. Feeling at peace. Allowing myself a rare moment to feel completely at ease.

“You’re wounded,” Rachel said to Titan, indicating a long gash above his elbow that was oozing blood. Titan bobbed his head. 

“It’s nothing,” he said warily. “I had scarcely noticed.” 

“Please allow me to look at it.”

By Cristina Collazo